CHAPTER VII
THE CLAIM OF THE "ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT"
When Eleanor returned to school the following morning, she found thatwhat Miss Thompson "disliked" was, after all, of considerableimportance. Directly after opening exercises the principal sent for herand asked the reason for her absence of the day before. On finding thatEleanor had no plausible excuse, but had absented herself merely becauseshe felt like it, Miss Thompson thereupon delivered a sharp littlelecture on unnecessary absence, informing Eleanor that it was the ruleof the school to present a written excuse for absence, and that a verbalexcuse would not be accepted.
"I will overlook it this time, Miss Savell," Miss Thompson said,"because you are not as yet thoroughly acquainted with the rules of thisschool, but do not let it occur again. And I must also insist uponpunctuality in future. You have been late a number of times."
With these words the principal turned to her desk and resumed thewriting she had been engaged in when Eleanor entered.
For a second, Eleanor stood regarding Miss Thompson with angry eyes. Noone had ever before dared to speak sharply to her. She was about to tellthe principal that she was not used to being addressed in that tone, butthe words would not come. Something in the elder woman's quiet, resoluteface as she sat writing checked the wilful girl, and though she feltdeeply incensed at the reprimand, she managed to control herself andwalked out of the office with her head held high, vowing to herself thatMiss Thompson should pay for what Eleanor termed "her insolence."
All morning she sulked through her classes, and before closing time hadmanaged to incur the displeasure of every teacher to whom she recited.
"What ails her to-day?" whispered Nora to Jessica.
It was geometry hour, and Miss Ames, the geometry teacher, had justreproved Eleanor for inattention.
Nora shook her head. She dared not answer, as Miss Ames was very strict,and she knew that to be caught whispering meant two originals to workout, and Nora hated originals.
When the bell rang at the close of the hour, Eleanor walked haughtily byMiss Ames, giving her a contemptuous look as she passed that made theteacher tighten her lips and look severe. Grace, who was directlybehind her, saw both the look and the expression on the teacher's face.She felt worried for Eleanor's sake, because she saw trouble ahead forher unless she changed her tactics. If Eleanor could only understandthat she must respect the authority of her various teachers duringrecitation hours and cheerfully comply with their requests, then allmight be well. Since Miss Leece had left the High School at the close ofGrace's freshman year, she could not conscientiously say that shedisliked any of her teachers. They had been both kind and just, and ifEleanor defied them openly, then she would have to take theconsequences. To be sure, Eleanor might refuse to go to school, butGrace had an idea that, lenient as Miss Nevin was with her niece, shewould not allow Eleanor to go that far. Grace decided that she wouldhave a talk with Eleanor after school. It would do no harm and it mightpossibly do some good.
She hurried down to the locker-room that afternoon in order to catchEleanor as she left school. She had just reached there when Eleanorwalked in, looking extremely sulky. She jerked her hat and coat from herlocker, hastily donned them, and, without looking at Grace, left theroom.
"She looks awfully cross," thought Grace. "Well, here goes," and shehurried after Eleanor, overtaking her at the entrance to the schoolgrounds.
"What's the matter, Eleanor?" she asked. "Didn't you care to wait forme?"
Eleanor looked at her with lowering brows. "I hate school," she saidvehemently. "I hate the teachers, and I hate Miss Thompson most of all.Every one of those teachers are common, low-bred and impertinent. As foryour Miss Thompson, she is a self-satisfied prig."
"You must not say such things of Miss Thompson, Eleanor," said Gracefirmly. "She doesn't deserve them. She is one of the finest women I haveever known, and she takes a warm interest in every girl in school. Whathas she done that you should speak of her as you do?"
"She called me into her office this morning and made a whole lot offuss because I didn't have a written excuse for yesterday's absence,"said Eleanor angrily. "When I told her that I stayed at home becauseI felt inclined to do so, she almost had a spasm, and gave me anotherlecture then and there, ending up by saying that it must not occuragain. I should like to know how she knew I was absent yesterday."
"Miss Thompson always knows when a girl is absent," replied Grace."The special teachers report to her every day. It is the rule of thisschool for a girl to present her excuse at the office as soon as shereturns; then her name is taken off the absent list. If she is absentthe second day, then a messenger is sent to her home to find out thecause. I suppose that when Miss Thompson looked over the list, sheremembered seeing you at opening exercises, so of course sent foryou."
"She is a crabbed old maid," said Eleanor contemptuously, "and I despiseher. I'll find some way to get even with her, and all the rest of thoseteachers, too."
"You will never get along in school, Eleanor," answered Grace gently,"if you take that stand. The only way to be happy is to----"
"Please don't preach to me," said Eleanor haughtily. "It is of no use.I am not a child and I understand my own business thoroughly. When I sawyou girls the first day of school, I thought that you were full of lifeand spirit, but really you are all goody-goodies, who allow thoseteachers to lead you around by the nose. I had intended to ask AuntMargaret to take me out of this ridiculous school, for some of thepeople in it make me tired, but I have changed my mind. I shall stay forpure spite and show that stiff-necked principal of yours that I am a lawunto myself, and won't stand her interference."
"Stop a moment, Eleanor. I am going no farther with you," said Grace,flushing, "but I should just like to say before I leave you that you aretaking the wrong view of things, and you'll find it out sooner or later.I am sorry that you have such a poor opinion of myself and my friends,for we cherish nothing but the friendliest feelings toward you."
With this, Grace walked away, feeling more hurt over Eleanor's rudenessthan she cared to show.
As she turned out of High School Street she heard a familiar call, and,glancing up the street, saw her three chums waiting for her on thecorner.
"We saw you just as you tackled Eleanor," said Nora, "so we kept away,for we thought after to-day's performances she wouldn't be in a verygood humor."
"What was the matter with her to-day?" asked Jessica curiously. "Shebehaved like a bad child in English this morning, followed it up ingeometry; and Anne says that in rhetoric class Miss Chester lost allpatience with her and gave her a severe lecturing."
"I might as well tell you at once that Eleanor's opinion of us is farfrom flattering," said Grace, half laughing, although there was a hurtlook on her face. "She says we are all goody-goodies and that we makeher tired. She also requested me to mind my own business."
"She said that to you? Just wait until the next time I see her,"blustered Nora, "I'll tell her what I think of her."
"On the contrary, we must treat her better, if anything, than before,"said Anne quietly. "Don't you remember we promised Mrs. Gray that wewould try to help her?"
"Yes, I remember all that; but I can't bear to have any one say horridthings to Grace," grumbled Nora.
"What a queer girl she is," said Jessica. "Yesterday she treated us asthough we were her dearest friends, while to-day she scorns us utterly.It's a case of 'blow hot, blow cold.'"
"That is because she has the artistic temperament," replied Anne,smiling.
"You may say what you like about the artistic temperament," said Nora,"but in my opinion it's nothing more nor less than just plain temper."